Machashavah מַחֲשָׁבָה

Machashavah (Hebrew מַחֲשָׁבָה, Strong's H4284) is a Hebrew feminine noun meaning “plot”. It occurs 56 times in 52 verses of the Old Testament.

Definition

From the STEPBible Brief Lexicon of Hebrew (based on the abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs), STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.

Translated as

Topics

• Mind and thoughts
• Plans and the future

Verses

Every verse with Machashavah, with the English words that translate it highlighted (KJV or BSB; other translations show the KJV here).

Genesis

• Genesis 6:5
  And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.

Exodus

• Exodus 31:4
  To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,
• Exodus 35:32
  And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,
• Exodus 35:33
  And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every artistic craft.
• Exodus 35:35
  Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and as weavers—as artistic designers of every kind of craft.

2 Samuel

• 2 Samuel 14:14
  For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.For surely we will die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him.

1 Chronicles

• 1 Chronicles 28:9
  And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
• 1 Chronicles 29:18
  O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this desire forever in the intentions of the hearts of Your people, and direct their hearts toward You.

2 Chronicles

• 2 Chronicles 2:14
  The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.He is the son of a woman from the daughters of Dan, and his father is a man of Tyre. He is skilled in work with gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, purple, blue, and crimson yarn, and fine linen. He is experienced in every kind of engraving and can execute any design that is given him. He will work with your craftsmen and with those of my lord, your father David.
• 2 Chronicles 26:15
  And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.And in Jerusalem he made skillfully designed devices to shoot arrows and catapult large stones from the towers and corners. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was helped tremendously so that he became powerful.

Esther

• Esther 8:3
  And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.And once again, Esther addressed the king. She fell at his feet weeping and begged him to revoke the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.
• Esther 8:5
  And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king’s provinces:“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight, may an order be written to revoke the letters that the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces.
• Esther 9:25
  But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.But when it came before the king, he commanded by letter that the wicked scheme which Haman had devised against the Jews should come back upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

Job

• Job 5:12
  He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.
• Job 21:27
  Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.Behold, I know your thoughts full well, the schemes by which you would wrong me.

Psalms

• Psalm 33:10
  The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.
• Psalm 33:11
  The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.
• Psalm 40:5
  Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us— none can compare to You— if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.
• Psalm 56:5
  Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise.
• Psalm 92:5
  O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.How great are Your works, O LORD, how deep are Your thoughts!
• Psalm 94:11
  The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.

Proverbs

• Proverbs 6:18
  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,
• Proverbs 12:5
  The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.The plans of the righteous are just, but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit.
• Proverbs 15:22
  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
• Proverbs 15:26
  The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him.
• Proverbs 16:3
  Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.
• Proverbs 19:21
  There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
• Proverbs 20:18
  Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
• Proverbs 21:5
  The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Isaiah

• Isaiah 55:7
  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
• Isaiah 55:8
  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
• Isaiah 55:9
  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
• Isaiah 59:7
  Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.
• Isaiah 65:2
  I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations,
• Isaiah 66:18
  For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.

Jeremiah

• Jeremiah 4:14
  O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?Wash the evil from your heart, O Jerusalem, so that you may be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts within you?
• Jeremiah 6:19
  Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have paid no attention to My word and have rejected My instruction.
• Jeremiah 11:19
  But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.For I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter; I did not know that they had plotted against me: “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be remembered no more.”
• Jeremiah 18:11
  Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.Now therefore, tell the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I am planning a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways, and correct your ways and deeds.’
• Jeremiah 18:12
  And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.But they will reply, ‘It is hopeless. We will follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’”
• Jeremiah 18:18
  Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.”
• Jeremiah 29:11
  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.
• Jeremiah 49:20
  Therefore hear the counsel of the Lord, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.Therefore hear the plans that the LORD has drawn up against Edom and the strategies He has devised against the people of Teman: Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.
• Jeremiah 49:30
  Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the Lord; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you.Run! Escape quickly! Lie low, O residents of Hazor,” declares the LORD, “for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has drawn up a plan against you; he has devised a strategy against you.
• Jeremiah 50:45
  Therefore hear ye the counsel of the Lord, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.Therefore hear the plans that the LORD has drawn up against Babylon and the strategies He has devised against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.
• Jeremiah 51:29
  And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant.The earth quakes and writhes because the LORD’s intentions against Babylon stand: to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.

Lamentations

• Lamentations 3:60
  Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.You have seen all their malice, all their plots against me.
• Lamentations 3:61
  Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, and all their imaginations against me;O LORD, You have heard their insults, all their plots against me—

Ezekiel

• Ezekiel 38:10
  Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.

Daniel

• Daniel 11:24
  He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.In a time of peace, he will invade the richest provinces and do what his fathers and forefathers never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will plot against the strongholds—but only for a time.
• Daniel 11:25
  And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.And with a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South, who will mobilize a very large and powerful army but will not withstand the plots devised against him.

Micah

• Micah 4:12
  But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD or understand His plan, for He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.

Notes

1. Definition and verse list from STEPBible's tagged Hebrew Old Testament (TAHOT) and Greek New Testament (TAGNT) and Brief Lexicons, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.
2. English renderings from the public-domain KJV with Strong's numbers (eBible.org) and the Berean Standard Bible interlinear (public domain).